Registration of contemporary and historical heraldry

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Mrs. Rachel Saroj Wrigley née Mathew

This certifies that the heraldic arms of
Rachel Saroj Wrigley née Mathew
which are created in her honor are registered as an original design and described by the blazon below

Arms: Per chevron rompu Blue Celeste and Argent the peak ensigned with a Mar Thoma Sliba Or two shankhas Argent fimbriated Or embellished with gemstones Rose and upon a hurt a lotus blossom flower Rose fimbriated Or.

Crest: From a crest coronet of alternating lotus blossoms and acorns Or two shofars entwined by a branch of holly leaved and fructed Proper.

Motto: From Good Ground

Rationale

The armiger's father was born at his family seat in Chengannur, Kerala, India. His family has owned land in Kerala for centuries and are members of the St. Thomas Christian ethnoreligious group, who are descended from early Jewish converts to Christianity. They are also known by the term “Nasrani” or “Nazarene” in English. Their symbol, the Mar Thoma Sliba (Cross of St. Thomas) is used in her arms. His family commissioned a church and are known by the epithet “the church-builders”, which is the primary inspiration for the arms.

Her mother’s family has been landed gentry in Tamil Nadu, India since 500BC. The shankha is used as a symbol in the region, e.g. in the flag of the Kingdom of Travancore, and also symbolises her descent from Brahmins. The shofar, used by Jews in a similar manner to the shankha, is featured in the crest in reminiscence of the shankhas.

Acorns and holly are used to symbolise her home in England. She was fond of both.

The lotuses are a reference to her middle name “Saroj”, which means “lotus”. Her family used this name more than her first name. The lotus is used to symbolise various things in India and is also at the base of the Mar Thoma Sliba.

The shankhas and the crown in the crest are decorated with rubies, which are mined in Tamil Nadu.

The motto “From good ground” is derived from Matthew 13:8, a reference to her surname and her parents’ ancestral land.